Slap.
The crisp sound resonated throughout the hall as all the nobles present looked at the pair standing in the middle.
A boy with white hair and sapphire blue eyes glared at the girl in front of him.
Meanwhile, the girl stood before him with her head bowed, her golden hair concealing her crimson eyes.
The handprint on her cheek stood out starkly against her fair complexion.
Her hand hung low as she tightly clutched a small ring.
"How many times do I have to say it, Grace?" the boy growled at her, making the girl flinch. "I chose Angilina because I wanted to. Don't try to come between us."
"B...but I am better—"
"Don't delude yourself, Grace," he interjected sharply, his voice laced with bitterness. "You have no place in my life anymore. Leave me be."
With a sharp turn, the boy walked out of the place, leaving the girl behind.
"Let's go home, Grace," a woman with the same blonde hair came beside her, speaking softly.
"I... I'm sorry, Aunt Sophia," Grace mumbled as she started to walk, following Eden. "I... need to convince him."
Sophia tried to say something, but she pressed her lips, stopping herself as Grace walked out of the hall.
"Eden," she shouted, trying to stop him.
"Eden!"
"What!?" he snapped, looking back at her.
"Please... Listen to me." She gently grabbed his hand and looked at him. "I understand if you don't want me to be in your life... But please stay away from her."
"Not this again—"
"Listen to me, Eden!" Grace shouted, grabbing his hand tightly. "Can't you see she doesn't love you anymore? She's ignoring you! She's using you!"
"Don't be ridiculous, Grace!" Yanking his hand away from her, Eden shouted, "You're now slandering her after I chose her instead of you."
Grace turned silent at his accusation, her breath becoming ragged as she desperately tried to stop herself from crying.
"It... hurts, Eden," Grace whispered as she placed her hand on her chest. "It hurts here seeing... you like this."
Eden stopped moving for a second as he looked at her.
"I... I feel weak, I... I feel like running away from all this," Grace muttered as she clenched her gown. "I feel afraid... that I will hurt you and I will become someone you hate."
"Stop it, Grace—"
"I... I don't want you to hate me, Eden." Tears slid down her cheeks as she continued. "Even... if it means I have to stay away from you."
"Please stop it, Grace." Eden's voice turned pleading as he whispered.
"But seeing you close to her, trying everything to win her heart..." Grace continued, ignoring his words. "I feel hurt, Eden."
"Stop it," Eden whispered again, grabbing his head. "Stop saying it."
"My mother left me, Eden," Grace sobbed as she continued to speak. "My father is ignoring me, Aunt Sophia has work to do. I... I feel lonely, I feel alone."
"STOP IT! STOP IT!" Clutching his head with both his hands, Eden shouted.
"Please... Don't leave me alone, Eden." Grace's knees lost their strength as she bent down in front of him. "Please... Eden."
Without replying Eden turned back as he continued to walk ignoring her.
In the silence of the night, her soft sobbing was the only thing that echoed, the ache in her chest seeming unbearable.
.....
.....
.....
"Argh.."
A spliting pain in my head woke me awake as my eye's flured open trying to adjust to the dim light of the room.
"Haah..."
With a tired sigh, I gently massaged my temples, trying to alleviate the splitting pain that pulsed through my head.
Standing up I moved towards the mirror while I tired to fix my messy hair.
Picking up a band, I began to tie back my hair as I looked at my face.
The first thing that I noticed was my eyes that was fully red as I didn't get a speck of sleep last night.
Thinking about last night, another memory that was fresh in my mind reoccurred.
"..."
And with the memory came a lingering sensation of his soft lips.
"Ahhh, idiot! Idiot!"
I shouted as my entire body started to heat up at the very thought of what happened—of how... Eden kissed me.
The memory of his soft lips on mine sent a shiver down my spine, igniting a burning desire to experience it again.
But I quickly pushed those feelings away as tried to clam my restless breathing.
My heart drummed against my chest as the feelings of his lips and the memories refused to fade, persisting in my mind.
"Clam down, idiot."
I took a deep breath, willing myself to push those overwhelming emotions aside and regain control of my racing heart.
With trembling hands, I splashed my face with cold water, the icy sensation helping to clear my mind and bring me back to the present moment.
"Why did he do that?" I asked as I looked at myself in the mirror.
Just when I thought I didn't have to worry about him, that idiot kissed me out of nowhere.
"What am I supposed to think of it?" I asked again, feeling conflicted.
Should I be happy or should I be concerned?
But more than anything, I'm sure Eden is bound to interfere more in what I'm going to do later on.
"Sigh..."
With another sigh, I walked out of my room and entered the main hall.
But just as I entered, my eyes twitched when I saw Eden sleeping peacefully on the sofa without any concern.
"....."
Taking away my sleep, he is sleeping peacefully.
Looking at him, I felt a strange urge to slap his face.
Shaking my head, I tiptoed towards him, careful not to wake him up.
Arriving beside him, I bent down on my knees and looked at him, my face just a few inches away from his.
But as I continued to stare at him, past memories also returned.
When he rejected me, it hurt me so much.
It hurt me to the point that I no longer cared about anything.
It broke to the extent that I didn't want to repair myself again.
My only reason to live was to take my revenge.
And no matter how much love and care Aunt Sophia gave me, my heart remained the same.
But...just one kiss from him was enough to shake my resolve.
It gave me hope...that I shouldn't have to die for my revenge.
"....."
Truly, I don't understand why I love this bastard so much.
Tucking my hair to my side, I leaned closer to him.
Closing the distance between us, I pressed my lips against his, feeling the warmth of his breath against my skin.
But even in his sleep, he reciprocated the kiss, lightly biting my lip, causing me to abruptly move backwards, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks once again.
His actions, even in his sleep, brought a flush of embarrassment to my cheeks, even as I tried to push the thoughts aside.
But... Why did he have to be so good at kissing?
Wasn't I his first kiss as well?
"...."
As the thought crossed my mind, the sudden urge to slap him again returned.
"Wake up, Eden!"
And I didn't stop my intrusive thought to slap him.